The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Afridi’s role in brawl under scanner

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 13, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Afridi’s role in brawl under scanner

Karachi: Shahid Afridi’s role will be under the scanner in the probe into the Shoaib Akhtar-Mohammad Asif brawl in Johannesburg with a few Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials suspecting the flamboyant all-rounder of provoking the spat.

PCB chief executive Shafqat Nagmi was scheduled to depart for South Africa to initiate the inquiry into the incident but move was cancelled as Board Chairman Naseem Ashraf decided to wait for the team’s return before any hearing is held by the disciplinary committee.

“Don’t be surprised if there is more to this incident, something more intriguing and planned as Akhtar — after the defection of Inzamam and departure of Mohammad Yousuf to the Indian Cricket League (ICL) — was the senior most player in the side at the moment,” a PCB source said.

“I would not be surprised if Akhtar returns to action for the home series against South Africa later this month,” he added.

Akhtar had accused Afridi of provoking him when he “accidentally” struck Asif with a bat during a practice session ahead of the World T20 in Johannesburg. Afridi, who also has a history of disciplinary transgressions, later rubbished the allegations.

However, a Pakistan player, who is not in the team, said going by Afridi’s record, Akhtar’s accusation could actually be true.

“Afridi himself does not have a very clean disciplinary and behaviour record, so one cannot discount Akhtar’s claim that he (Afridi) provoked the brawl with Asif,” the player said. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail